Equipped with one or two pairs of retractile tentacles and a helical shell, the
snail
, which measures between two and six centimeters, is an essential link in biodiversity, even at its own pace (one millimeter per second).
Its lifespan is estimated between three and fifteen years.
To discover
Garden: watch out for ticks!
What is the use of a snail in the garden?
It should be noted that its presence in the garden is a sign that the latter is of good quality.
Feeding on the eggs of larvae, earthworms or debris from dead plants, it contributes to the balance of the garden.
Living on the ground, the snail actually clings to compounds of the latter in its tissues which are then studied by scientists to see the quality of certain soils and note any chemical pollution.
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Food: what does a snail eat?
A fan of decomposing plant matter, the snail also feeds on living plants and fruits and vegetables including lettuces, tomatoes, apples and strawberries and can therefore cause a lot of visible damage such as small holes in the leaves caused by the passage of its 1500 to 2000 teeth on its raspy tongue or a shiny trace of their mucus and be vectors of plant diseases.
To avoid the arrival of these unwanted visitors around your plantations, it is recommended to place salt, coffee grounds, garlic, onion or wood ashes or an embankment around the areas.
You can also simply pick them up by hand and move them away from your chard.
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Why are there many snails in my garden?
These molluscs are fond of humid atmospheres (above 60%).
After the rain, in spring, it is common to come across them in the garden, especially when sowing and planting are in progress.
An ideal playground and tasting area.
He also likes to walk at night.
Otherwise, if the temperature is below 10°C and the ground is dry, it hides in its shell and can hibernate for up to six months.
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Where are the snails hiding?
A wooden board, a tile, a low wall, a damp piece of cardboard or a sheet can serve as a shelter for snails.
They are also found under the skin of half a grapefruit or half an orange, under the grass or under the moss or when digging a space in the ground are strategic places for snails to escape their predators.
What are snail predators?
Despite their imposing shell, they are highly coveted.
Birds (thrush, blackbird), rodents, hedgehogs or toads, hens, insects (beetles), lizards (sorvet) and mammals – including humans – feed on this rubbery-textured mollusk.
